MissCK

Well here I am 6 days post op!
Got home from TJ yesterday. Today was my first day if feeling really week and blah. Been in bed pretty much all day. I was running around like crazy in TJ post surgery. We walked to the mall and around there and other little trips like that. Got up this morning and made my daughter, niece, and nephew pancakes and had a cup of Jello and felt like I had been run over. My sister is here with her kids for the weekend helping me so I just went back to bed. Also had horrible diahhrea today, first time that happened. Sorry TMI.
Got on scale yesterday when we got home, down 5 pounds which doesn't surprise me being on liquids only. I've been drinking/eating full calorie Gatorade, Jello, and broth to get some calories in me. Once I can start eating food I will change to all sugar free, zero cal drinks. Can't wait to start on full liquids tomorrow. pudding and Protein shakes yay! I definitely have the desire to eat but I'm not hungry. My body wants to eat for the energy and I'm just used to it! I almost took a bite of my kid's pancake out if habit! Wasn't thinking and put it to my mouth. Realized just before I ate it what I was doing.
Still tender and sore where incisions are. Took bandages off so they can breathe now. Bought some Maderma for the scars. Have to wait until they are fully healed to use Maderma but that stuff works! I used it on a previous surgery scar on my stomach and it cleared up the scar in 3 months. That scar was much larger than these tiny incisions.
Well I'm going to get up, shower, and take the kids on a short walk.

Well I told my mom and she was very supportive! I started out by saying that I needed to share something with her and I needed her not to be judgemental. We talked about it and I shared this website with her to show her other people's experiences in Mexico. She is going with me to Mexico so that makes me very happy. Less than 3 months!!!
I've started taking my daughter for walks every night. She rides her little bike and I walk. It's good for both of us and she LOVES it. I haven't really been eating better. I've been doing the opposite, kind of mourning my loss of food by eating it. All. I promised myself I would get on the healthy track after the holidays though.

Yay talked my way into an earlier flight with no fee. Hint; if you fly southwest and tell them you just had surgery they will give you a disability pre board pass at the gate.

Hi March sleevers! Had my surgery Monday and leaving for home tomorrow yay! Feel really good today very little pain. We had an awesome outing today. Raul drove us to the markets. Had a blast walking around and buying touristy things for the kids. He also drove us around the slummy side and the rich side of town. Then had Soup with my new friends I made in the marriott restaurant. Was a lovely day and I met some incredible people this week. What an amazing experience. I'm much stronger than I thought and this has inspired me to change other things in my life. My mother also came with me and she was incredibly against the surgery but she gets it now because she lived through it with me. We really bonded.
Some quick advice/info for those about to go and going to Mi Doctor Hospital in Tijuana:
You will have 5 incisions not 1 with Dr Lopez. I was under the impression this would be a 1 incision surgery from the Mexico bariatric center website.
If you have small veins expect to be poked many times before they can find a good vein. I have tiny veins and was poked 5 times each time (had 2 diff IVs because one went bad after first night) before they got one.
The hospital rooms are very noisy! You hear car horns beeping day and night. The drivers in Mexico use their horns like crazy. Bring earplugs.
The hospital rooms are also bright even when all lights are off. The blinds in my room didn't cover the full window. Bring a sleep mask. I bought one and then forgot it at home. So bummed!
Expect a lot of waiting. When they say 5 minutes it means 30. When they say an hour it means 2 hours. It was annoying as hell at first but I got used to it.
Bring slippers or warm socks as hospital doesn't provide them.
The first 24 hours are hard but it gets so much better every day. Just hang in there. It's so worth it and you will be amazed at how fast you heel.
The drain is awful. It's so annoying and Dr Lopez insists on keeping it in for 4 days which SUCKS. I was chatting with Dr Cabrera patients and they got theirs removed after 2 days. Jealous! It's better safe than sorry but lord that drain was so uncomfortable. Also, I read horror stories of how painful it is having the drain removed but I'm happy to report it was literally 3 seconds and I felt some pressure and then it was done. No pain. So easy!
I used my heating pad to warm up as the hospital was freezing the first day when we arrived at 7:30am. It wasn't until hours later a nurse told me I actually had a heater in the room.
The hotel is awesome! Not anything fancy but comfy. Staff is so friendly. The beds and pillows are the best. And there are a few English channels on with shows on like 2 and a half men, Big Bang theory, and CSI.
Can't think of anything else for now. Just know that you will be okay and this is an amazing journey you are about to embark on! I'm so excited for all of you!!! Yaaaayyyyyy!!!!

Tomorrow morning is the day! I fly to San Diego today at 2:40 mst. Got a call last night from my driver Victor. He helped put my mind at ease. He was so friendly and specific. Just a short 1 hr flight for me. Can't believe it's happening tomorrow!!!!

Hi everyone, I've been stalking. I'm bummed nobody is getting theirs done on 3/3 with me. Oh well I'm sure I will make friends. I went through Mexico Bariatric and have Dr. Lopez. My mom is going with me and my ex husband is taking our daughter for the 6 days I'm gone. I'm going to miss her so much! I'm starting to get scared too, like what am I doing? Why am I risking my life with I have a kid at home? I know it sounds silly but, having a kid now, I think like that. I know it's very safe and it will be fine, I'm just starting to get a little anxious. I can't even get excited about the size 8 and medium sized cute spring/summer clothes I've been buying for when the weight is falling off!

Ok so I went in for surgery at 5pm. I was sooooo bored. We arrive at 7am. Doing good today. Have killer heart burn that kept me up. I brought Gaviscon because it's always worked miracles for bad heart burn. It didn't work so well last night. They gave prescrptim acid relief in my IV which worked! It's hard to get in and out of bed. That's the onlytime I feel pains from the incisions. I had Dr Lopez. I passed the leak test and haven't thrown up any fluids. Just talking them in slowly with tiny sips. They also have a saline IV in you at all times.

Hi everyone. I'm here at Mi hospital waiting. And waiting. Going to go f'ing nuts. We got here at 7:30am and it's almost 1 and I want to pull my hair out. Nobody can tell me when I'm going. Had bloods and EKG, met everyone, in my room in the gown and compression socks on STARVING. Lol. Fuck me.

Hi everyone. I'm here at Mi hospital waiting. And waiting. Going to go f'ing nuts. We got here at 7:30am and it's almost 1 and I want to pull my hair out. Nobody can tell me when I'm going. Had bloods and EKG, met everyone, in my room in the gown and compression socks on STARVING. Lol. Fuck me.

Tomorrow morning is the day! I fly to San Diego today at 2:40 mst. Got a call last night from my driver Victor. He helped put my mind at ease. He was so friendly and specific. Just a short 1 hr flight for me. Can't believe it's happening tomorrow!!!!

Tomorrow morning is the day! I fly to San Diego today at 2:40 mst. Got a call last night from my driver Victor. He helped put my mind at ease. He was so friendly and specific. Just a short 1 hr flight for me. Can't believe it's happening tomorrow!!!!

Chipping of teeth is common in medical emergency situations if a patient needs to be intubated but during a surgery there is not the sense of urgency there and so the anesthesiologist and surgeons are a lot more gentle and not moving quickly to save a life. They just throw that out there as a disclaimer.

I had my surgery with Dr. Lopez on 1/21/14. I also booked through Mexico Bariatric. Everything was wonderful! No complications and I'm doing super post op! I have two other friends that had Dr. Lopez in October that is why I chose him.

I had Christy as my coordinator and everything is legit. I don't know if my surgery counts as recent since it was about 11 months ago. I spoke with her several times prior to my surgery and she answered all my questions and was extremely helpful to expedite my surgery process.
I had no issues when I landed in San Diego and called the driver and he was there to pick me up in about 10 mins but there was a lot of construction at the airport at that time so I can understand it was full of traffic. But I am sure he would have been on time.

big hugs to you, MissCK - I admire your bravery and it's only a few days away now!!!!!!!!!

Jennao
I had my sleeve done by Dr. Lopez on Feb.5. I went alone, met some other sleevers and now have become good friends, and everything went great, it was a wonderful experience..I had hardly any pain, no gas pain..and have lost 28 lbs since surgery...you made a good choice, you will do fine..btw I am 55....

Hi! Please keep us posted & let us know how it goes. I am having mine done through Dr. Lopez on 3/7. I have 3 kids & I have had the same thoughts that you are having & I am getting really nervous. I just keep reminding myself that this is for my kids also. I need to be healthy so I can be around for them for a long time.

Hi MissCK- I'm actually scheduled with Dr. Lopez through Christy for VSG on April 8th. I have done some research and found a few reviews for Mexico Bariatric- did not find any horror stories! One thing I'm sure about is that it's definitely not a scam- don't know how it compares to the other brokers such as 'A Lighter Me', but I'm sure it's just fine.
Hopefully someone else replies that has gone through Mexico Bariatric so they could provide some insight

Hi everyone, I've been stalking. I'm bummed nobody is getting theirs done on 3/3 with me. Oh well I'm sure I will make friends. I went through Mexico Bariatric and have Dr. Lopez. My mom is going with me and my ex husband is taking our daughter for the 6 days I'm gone. I'm going to miss her so much! I'm starting to get scared too, like what am I doing? Why am I risking my life with I have a kid at home? I know it sounds silly but, having a kid now, I think like that. I know it's very safe and it will be fine, I'm just starting to get a little anxious. I can't even get excited about the size 8 and medium sized cute spring/summer clothes I've been buying for when the weight is falling off!

Not to worry, MissCK, each surgeon's instructions are different. Follow your instructions but you could also contact his coordinator just to ease your mind

Bufflehead that was some excellent advise thank you!!! I'm going to tell my mom tomorrow. She is living with me right now as she is also going through a divorce (lol right???). She's on a backpacking trips this weekend but she'll be back tomorrow. I'm printing my materials and getting it all ready. Thank you again.

Thanks Sabredy!

Your mom will eventually realize that getting in shape after sleeve surgery does involve eating healthy and staying active. It's not like you are going to be on the couch eating Cheetos and Reese's Peanutbutter cups after this. You will go on hikes with her and keep your calories very low.
I know it's human nature for most of us to want the approval of our parents and to shrink from telling them things that will bring on their judgment, but I would encourage you to at least consider telling her sooner rather than later and using it as an opportunity not just to educate her but to teach yourself to be confident in your own convictions and not worry so much about what other people (specifically your parents) think. On the other hand, if you know she is going to come down hard and make it emotionally tougher for you to stay on track with being healthy prior to surgery, then it might be better to keep it to yourself. You are an adult - your health care decisions are none of her business. Either way, it is your call and YOU just have to feel comfortable with what you decide.
Congrats on your upcoming surgery -- I'll bet you love your sleeve (eventually, the first few weeks can be tough) and will do great with it.

Good for u x